Miquel Mai at The National Art Museum of Catalonia, Spain

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Miquel Mai was a renowned Spanish politician and humanist of great stature. Born into a distinguished family, Miquel was the son of Regent Chancellor Joan Mai and Elizabeth Rovira. He was also the grandson of Regent Chancellor Joan Ramon Mai Mai and the grandson of a master of medicine at Temple. Two of his brothers, Clement and John, held esteemed positions as abbots of Ripoll and San Benet, respectively. Miquel's impressive credentials include being a doctor of law. In 1512-17, he served as Regent Chancellor of Sardinia, later taking on the role of Councilor to Aragon from 1519-33. In 1528, Miquel was appointed ambassador in Rome, where he worked closely with Pope Clement VII. He played a pivotal role in preparing Charles' solemn coronation by the pope in Bologna. Miquel's career reached new heights when he was promoted to Vice-Chancellor of the Aragonese Crown in 1533, a position he held until his passing. In 1535, he accompanied King Charles on a journey to Tunis and participated in various significant events throughout his life, including the courts of Monsoon in 1542. A close friend and associate of the young humanist Martin Ivarra, Miquel was also part of the influential circle surrounding Erasmus in Barcelona. This group included Mercurino Gattinara, a key figure in imperial policy. Miquel's Italian-inspired humanistic education is evident in his extensive library, which boasted over 1,800 printed works and 400 manuscripts. In addition to legal texts, Miquel's library featured an impressive collection of classical Italian and French works, as well as numerous publications by Erasmus, some of which were even prohibited. His home in Barcelona, known as Pines house, was a treasure trove of antiquities that he had accumulated over the years. Miquel's intellectual pursuits extended beyond his own writings, as evident from the dedications made to him by notable figures such as Professor Rafael Mambla, who wrote "Dialectic" in 1540, and Archbishop Antonio Agustin, who dedicated "Emendationum ..." in 1543.